HEALTH NEWS IN BRIEF

Penn State Extension will offer the Grow Stronger program Mondays and Wednesdays at Belle Reve, 404 E. Harford St., Milford.

Penn State Extension will offer the Grow Stronger program Mondays and Wednesdays at Belle Reve, 404 E. Harford St., Milford.

Starting Monday, the program will be held 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. both days.

Beginning July 9, the program will take place 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Pike County Administration Building, 506 Broad St., Milford.

Middle-aged and older adults can benefit from regular exercise more than anyone. Research shows that exercise with weights will increase muscle mass, strength and bone density; provide arthritis relief; restore balance; control weight and blood glucose; improve sleep; strengthen the heart; and improve state of mind.

Registration fee is $80 for 12 weeks and $40 for six weeks. For information, call 570-296-3400 or visit extension.psu.edu/pike.

To celebrate the grand opening, Rite Aid will offer free health screenings and product samples. Nurses and licensed pharmacists will be on hand to provide free services such as blood pressure readings, total cholesterol testing, blood glucose testing and screenings for coronary obstructive pulmonary disease.

In addition, wellness ambassadors will provide interactive demos on customized iPads. As a regular addition, wellness ambassadors help customers access information and facilitate access to the clinical advice and services of the pharmacists.

Visitors also may sample organic, gluten-free or natural food products and pick up other product samples and coupons.

For information, call 908-362-6963 or visit riteaid.com.

What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? A little less busy in hospital emergency rooms.

The American College of Emergency Physicians urges you to celebrate the country's birthday by using common sense when it comes to the potential dangers of fireworks.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 200 people on average go to the emergency room daily with fireworks-related injuries around the July 4 holiday. Most of the injuries involve burns. For instance, a sparkler can burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — which is as hot as a blow torch.

Almost half (46 percent) of fireworks injuries are to a person's hands or fingers, according to CPSC. One-third (34 percent) of them are to a person's eyes, head, face and ears.

If fireworks are legal in your community, ACEP strongly suggests not using fireworks at your home. If you do use them, however, these do's and don'ts will help make it a safer experience.

Have knowledgeable supervision by an experienced adult if you choose to use fireworks. Buy fireworks from reputable dealers. Read warning labels and follow all instructions. Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher on hand. Light fireworks one at a time. Dispose of all fireworks properly.

Don't give any fireworks, including sparklers, to small children; older children should be supervised by a responsible adult. Don't light fireworks indoors or near other objects. Don't place your body over a fireworks device when trying to light the fuse; immediately back up to a safe distance after you light it. Don't point or throw fireworks at another person, ever. Don't try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. Don't wear loose clothing while using any fireworks. Don't set off fireworks in glass or metal containers — the fragments can cause severe injury. Don't carry fireworks in a pocket. Don't try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks.